Brandi Caroline
From award-winning songwriting and bass playing to live production, touring, and building tools for fellow artists, Brandi Caroline has carved out a career that refuses to fit neatly into one lane. We caught up with the Calgary-based musician to talk about her journey from the Saskatchewan prairies to stages across the country and what has kept her inspired along the way.
F
rom the Saskatchewan prairies to stages, studios, and everything in between, Brandi Caroline has never been one to stick to just one lane. Her music carries the country roots she grew up with, but her career has taken her well beyond songwriting and performing. Brandi has a knack for finding her way into just about every corner of the live music world, whether she’s onstage, behind the scenes, helping another artist bring a show together, or dreaming up a better way to keep the whole thing organized. It’s that mix of creativity, curiosity, and a DIY attitude that makes her story such a fun one. Keep reading to get to know Brandi and the many sides of her life in music.
What initially inspired you to pursue a career in music?
It's such a challenge to pinpoint what specifically inspired me - I feel like I had many formative moments that led me to a life of music. As a child, I grew up on a remote farm, where I spent a lot of time alone. But that alone time made me creative. I loved to write and read. I felt like the solitude was what kept me continually artistically inspired.
Music was one of the things that kept me company - I listened to my parent's vinyl and cassette collections, falling in love with artists like Reba McEntire, Steve Earle, Linda Ronstadt, Alabama. It wasn't until my teenage years when I really started to direct my own music discovery, and the two artists that really marked the turning point of me wanting to become a musician - Shania Twain and Alanis Morisette. That was when music changed from my companion to my calling. Once that happened, I immediately became a menace to all of my friends, constantly masterminding and engineering musical groups we could form together. This perhaps was also the inception of my work as a tour manager as well, haha!
Can you share a memorable moment from your musical journey that has had a significant impact on you?
I will never forget my first tour supporting a big artist. My former band Nice Horse was opening for Tom Cochrane. It was our first ever tour, and I was beyond excited to be opening for such an iconic Canadian legend. What was even more exciting was that Tom asked me to sing backing vocals in his show! The first time stepping onstage to sing with Tom, in an arena in Cranbrook, singing backing vocals on "Life is a Highway"...I can truly say that, in that moment, I never felt more proud to be a Canadian and a musician.
What influences have shaped your style of music?
Oh, so many! I have such a maze of musical influences and interests. I grew up listening to country music. I learned bass playing in jazz bands in my teenage years. I studied classical music in university, then went on to front an indie pop band and play bass in a math rock trio...which eventually led me back to country music, where my love of music first started.
I feel like my music now is a lint roller, that has picked up little pieces of all those musical lives as I moved through them. The sound that was created on the other end is what I call cinematic alt-country - created by my love of 90's country music, folk rockers like Fleetwood Mac, the cinematic alt-pop sounds of artist like Lana Del Rey, all with a distinctly indie feel.
If you could create a soundtrack for any historical event, which one would it be and why?
I don't know that I would create a soundcheck for a particular historical event - but I would want to create a soundtrack to a particular book series. I would love to do a modern soundtrack interpretation to the Anne of Green Gables books. I was completely obsessed with these books growing up - I was a voracious reader, and the Anne series were my absolute favourite.
I wanted to BE Anne Shirley - so much so, that I dyed my hair carrot orange for most of my twenties to channel my inner Anne. I even at one point played Anne in the musical theatre adaptation of the books. I feel like if there is something I could accurately capture by soundtrack, it would be Anne of Green Gables : )
If you could teleport to any concert in history, which one would you attend and why?
Ahh, please teleport me back to 1999 for Lilith Fair! In an era that is rife with male-dominated festival lineups, I would love to go back to a moment in time where I could watch an entire lineup of incredible female talent. The Lilith Fair lineups were all filled with the artists that made me fall in love with music, but the 1999 lineup in particular, with Sarah McLachlan, The Chicks, Sheryl Crow, Susan Tedeschi, Lisa Loeb...just, wow. To be in the audience for that festival would truly be the pinnacle for me.
If you could collaborate with any artist, living or deceased, who would it be and why?
Hands down, Hawksley Workman. I have always been enthralled with artists that are multidisciplinary talents, and Hawksley is just that - a true creator in so many realms, beyond music. Hawksley's vivid lyrical agency is what made me want to be a songwriter, and I listen to his extensive catalogue when I need to remind myself why I chose a musical existence. To write and record an album with Hawksley would be an absolute dream.
What's the most memorable feedback or reaction you've received from a fan?
As a musician and artist, we are so lucky to have so many memorable moments with fans - those moments, and connecting with others, are such a huge part of why we do this in the first place. I did have an encounter recently with a fan that really stuck with me though.
I was in Australia for a music festival, and someone approached me. They told me that they were a fan of my band - but not my current project. Not even my band before that. It was my band before THAT, my first ever band for over a decade ago. They told me their favourite song by singing it word for word. THE ENTIRE THING. And the crazy thing is, that song is not available anywhere. To know that song, you would have had to have seen it live in concert - and to know the song as well as she did, she probably would have had to see in multiple times in concert. It was the most humbling experience, to know that a song only played live a handful of times could have such an impact on someone that they still remember it word for word more than ten years later. If that isn't a picture perfect case study for the power of music, I don't know what is.
How did your collaboration with Plunge Audio begin?
I have been using Plunge IEMs for eleven years now! They were my first ever IEMs. I remember getting my molds done in Simon's backyard, and getting my very first pair of molded IEMs with ambient mics. I have been using them ever since (I'm now on universals), and for good reason - not only are they such a great IEM, but I know if anything does go wrong, I pick up the phone and Plunge has a solution sorted for me lightning fast.
That is a peace of mind that is priceless for a touring musician. I remember, on a fateful dogsitting trip in Nashville, the dog I was sitting for ate my in-ears (insert homework excuse here.) I only had two days before my next show, and the team at Plunge was able to get me a replacement pair before that show. I have so much trust and reassurance in Plunge, knowing that they will take care of me when I need it!
What specific features do you look for when choosing IEMs for your performances?
As a bass player and a vocalist, I really need an IEM that delivers definition over a wide range of frequencies. That is always my primary focus - so that I feel confident in both my bass sound and the vocal information I am receiving.
What advice would you give to other musicians who are considering using IEMs for the first time?
I hear so often from musicians that they are reluctant to use IEMs because they tried them once and didn't like them, or they just couldn't get to a place of comfort with them. The advice I give to all of them is to take the time to get used to them in a controlled setting. Hire a monitor tech to attend a band rehearsal purely for the sake of helping you set up your ears, answer your questions, help you troubleshoot.
IEMs are like your instrument - you can have the best guitar in the world, but if you don't know how to play it, it won't sound good. IEMs should be approached in the same way. Ask questions, learn to understand them and what works for you, and practice with them!
